From: World Association of Newspapers (WAN)

His Excellency Ato Meles Zenawi
Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
C/o Permanent Representative to UN
Email: ethiopia@un.int

The Right Honourable Ato Bereket Simon
Minster of  Information of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
E-mail: Minoi@telecom.net.et

21 January 2003

Dear Prime Minister,

We  are  writing  on  behalf of the World Association of Newspapers and  the World  Editors Forum, which represent 18,000 publications in 100 
countries, to  express  our  serious  concern  at  the  government's  consideration of proposals that may have a serious, adverse effect on freedom of the 
press.
According  to  reports,  the  government  held a symposium last week on the future  of  the  press.  Among the matters discussed was the new press 
law, drafted  exclusively  by the Ministry of Information, the draft  journalists and  publishers  code  of  ethics,  and  regulations  establishing  a 
press council.

We  are  concerned  that  some  of  the  independent  media,  including  the Ethiopian  Free  Journalists  Association  (EFJA),  were  unable to 
take an active  role  in  the  meeting  to  discuss  these  important  matters  and, furthermore,  have  not  been  fully  consulted  during the drafting of 
the proposed   legislation.   We   also   respectfully   remind  you  that  the establishment  of a code of ethics and press council should be matters 
that fall within the domain of the press, not of the government.

The  private  media  in  Ethiopia  is  currently facing many challenges. In addition  to  continuing  pressure from authorities over content, 
financial challenges   have   grown,  including  increased  printing  costs  and the imposition  of  value  added tax on publications. We are concerned that 
the outcome  of  the  symposium may result in the enactment of legal provisions that may impose yet greater burdens on the independent press.

We  respectfully ask that your government fully consults all private media, including  EFJA,  before  any legal amendments are enacted or a 
decision to establish  a  press  council  or  ethical  code  is made. We urge you to do Everything   possible   to   ensure   that   your  country  fully  
respects international standards of freedom of expression.

We look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.

Yours sincerely,

Seok Hyun Hong
President
World Association of Newspapers

Gloria Brown Anderson
President
World Editors Forum

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